Golden branches and jade leaves

Chapter 4 First Encounter by the Pool
Su Mi got up early in the morning. Today is the day Zheng Guifei ordered to visit Concubine Yun in Juhe Palace. After serving Wei Qinger, she came to the main hall of Caiwei Palace with gifts.

Wu Meiren and Hao Changzai have arrived, and Zheng Guibi is still putting on makeup.

Xiangluo, Wu and Hao's personal maids were holding gifts and waiting in front of the door in an orderly manner.Su Mi walked over and stood beside them, quietly waiting for the figure of the Lord of Caiwei Palace.

Concubine Zheng Gui was selected in the last draft two years ago. In this court where "beautiful women are not old enough to be kind before they are old", although she has not withered when she just reached her full age, she is already a thing of the past. What's more, next year There is a new official draft, and when the newcomers come in, she will be even more old.

Sometimes she can't help but think, is that favored concubine Yun obviously older than her?Why does the emperor just refuse to look at her more?Is it because she is not pretty enough?Sitting in front of the bronze mirror, she let the palace servants under her hand fiddle with it, coiled up a high bun for her, filled with bright pearls and emeralds, and put on a trembling step rocker, while she couldn't help thinking.Concubine Yun is certainly stunning in the world, but she is not far behind Zheng Peiyu, isn't she?
Until the palace servants beside him reminded softly, "Your Majesty, it's already healed."

Zheng Guipin came back to her senses, and carefully looked at her bright and charming face in the mirror. "It's not bad, alas, it's been a long time since Ben Gong has dressed up so carefully."

"The hibiscus comes out of the empress's clear water, even if she doesn't wear makeup, it is far better than us vulgar fans." The clever Wu Meiren immediately said.Hao Changzai next to him also nodded in agreement.

Zheng Guibin's mood improved a lot, "The two younger sisters are too humble, and it's getting late, let's go now."

The three masters rode in a chariot, Su Mi and the others followed behind with gifts, and soon arrived at Juhe Palace where Concubine Yun lived.

Juhe Palace is located in the east of the harem, not far from Qianqing Palace, next to the Bibo Pool, and the entire palace is built facing the water, imitating the style of the Jiangnan waterfront, extremely elegant and exquisite.

A group of several people had just arrived at Juhe Palace, and the capable palace people around Concubine Yun had already greeted them.

Dang first was a girl in a fashionable emerald green palace dress, about 25 or [-] years old, handsome in appearance, smart in manner, and a high-grade palace lady by the color of her hairpin, followed by a few little girls.All the way, he bowed to Zheng Guifei and said: "Your concubine and all the masters are here. Our master is looking forward to it early in the morning. The special servant Cai Xing is waiting here." As he walked to the chariot, he stretched out his hand to help Concubine Zheng comes down.

Although Concubine Zheng's status was two levels lower than Concubine Yun's, she was still the lord of the first palace. Seeing that she came to visit, Concubine Yun only sent a girl out, and her face was not very good-looking.With a flick of his hand, without looking at Cai Xing, he said in a low voice, "Xiangluo..."

Seeing this, Xiang Luo had already handed over the gifts to the people around her, and hurriedly stepped forward to support her master.

Seeing that her hands were empty, Cai Xing didn't have a trace of annoyance on her face, she followed behind Zheng Guifei and said: "Our master was very happy when he found out that the empress was coming, and he often said that she was introverted, so she was introverted when she entered the palace. Time is short, I have long wanted to make friends with you ladies, but I am afraid that you ladies will not want to see..."

Zheng Guibin was very humble and respectful when she heard what she said, and then his expression slowly softened.

After entering the palace gate, the masters were naturally welcomed into the main hall, while Su Mi and the others were holding gifts, and the palace maid in charge took them to the warehouse in the side courtyard.After a while, the gift points are registered and handed over to the warehouse.

After finishing their errands, Xianglin and their master were still in the palace, so naturally they couldn't leave, so the little girl led them into the side room to drink tea and wait.Su Mi was impatient with wasting time like this, so she came out early on the pretext that Wei Qing'er had to wait on her.

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On a cold and windy winter day, even green leaves are rare, but in the blue wave pool in front of you, there are undulating lotus leaves and tens of thousands of flowers blooming.Because Concubine Yun loves lotus, the emperor ordered the House of Internal Affairs to cultivate more cold and frost-resistant lotus varieties in order to please her. The charcoal basin was used to warm the stove, and this autumn, water from the hot spring outside the palace——Huolong Spring was introduced into the pool from the ground. Finally, in winter, the grand scene of "the endless green lotus leaves reaching the sky and the red lotus flowers reflecting the sun" was created before the eyes.

Looking at the beautiful scenery in front of her, Su Mi couldn't help but feel relaxed and happy.On a whim, I simply headed east along the Bibo Pool. Although it is a little farther back to the palace this way, there are not many opportunities to enjoy such beautiful scenery along the way.

After walking for a while, it was getting far away from Juhe Palace, the lotus in the pond was not as neatly arranged as it was just seen, and the road was difficult to walk.

When they came to a corner of the pool, Su Mi wanted to rest his feet, so he went into the water to wash his face.Just after turning over a rockery and coming to the water's edge, Su Mi was stunned. There was someone in front of her, and she was taking a bath in the pool.It is a little girl who is only about thirteen or fourteen years old, and I don't know which palace she is from.

When did Concubine Yun become so tolerant?

The three pools in the harem, Taiye Pool, Bibo Pool, and Weiyang Pool, were originally used by the masters of the palaces to entertain and relax, but since the emperor renovated the Bibo Pool for Concubine Yun, the concubines have kept it There is an indescribable grudge.Even if it is close, there are few people who come here to relax. They would rather go to Taiye Pool and Weiyang Pool which are farther away.And Concubine Yun doesn't like strangers to get close to her. There were palace maids who were beaten to death because they secretly broke the lotus in the pond.As soon as this matter got out, no one came to touch the bad luck.

If it wasn't for the justifiable reputation of giving gifts this time, Su Mi wouldn't be here to watch it with confidence.

The little palace maid heard the sound behind her, turned her head, saw Su Mi at a glance, couldn't help screaming, suddenly remembered something, and the screaming stopped abruptly.

"Who are you?" She looked at Su Mi warily and asked.The slap-sized face is white and rosy, pink and tender, the nose is white and fat, and the cherry-like red lips are slightly upturned. She is such a sweet little girl. After seeing her appearance clearly, Su Mi can't help but I gave a good thumbs up.

"This is the blue wave pool of Concubine Yun, outsiders are not allowed to enter." Seeing that Su Mi remained calm, she couldn't help feeling a little anxious.

Su Mi glanced at the palace maid's clothes on the rockery, and said with a smile, "It doesn't matter who I am, but I just picked up a big credit for nothing."

"What a great contribution? Don't talk nonsense, hurry up and leave? I don't want to tell anyone else. If someone sees you, you will be punished." It looks like a guilty conscience.

"Punishment? It doesn't matter. As long as I tell the manager that someone dared to take a bath in the pool and defile the pool, the merits and demerits will be offset. Maybe there will be a reward?" Su Mi laughed.

"Ah? My dear sister, you must not go there. It's because Qiyan made a mistake." When she heard the word "complaint", the little girl became anxious and turned to pleading.

This girl knows how to choose a place, Su Mi looked around, this corner is surrounded by rockery on three sides, a grove of trees, and there are many plants near water such as narcissus and wisteria on the rockery, the water is rippling, the lotus leaves are tender, and the fragrance is overflowing. Warm as spring.And if you don't turn over the rockery, you really can't find it.

Su Mi just saw that she was so cute, so she became childish for a while, and deliberately teased her.Seeing that she was really in a hurry, she turned around and said, "I won't say anything, don't worry, it's just that you're taking a bath here, isn't it too bold?"

"Sister, don't worry, everything will be fine." After Su Mi repeatedly assured that she would not speak out, Qi Yan was relieved and said.

The two talked, and it turned out that this little girl was named Liu Qiyan, and she just entered the palace two months ago.

Daqi's harem, in addition to the three-year draft, also has an annual selection.

The draft is to select unmarried women with both talents and looks from various officials' families to fill the harem. These women are all born in official families and have noble blood.

And Caixuan is to select beautiful and moving unmarried women from all over the country. These women are not born high, and most of them are from the families of gentry and eunuchs.After being selected into the palace, most of them are ordinary court ladies, and only a few outstanding ones are able to serve the emperor and become concubines.Concubine Yun was selected to enter the palace. She was originally the daughter of an ordinary scholar family in Qianzhou. Shocked as a heavenly man, he was immediately selected into the court, and he was favored as expected.

Liu Qiyan is the youngest daughter of Liu Quan, a well-known wealthy businessman in the capital. The Liu family is considered innocent, but it is a pity that it is a merchant family, and her daughter can only be a slave when she enters the palace.Liu Quan didn't want his daughter to enter the palace, but it was his destiny. Fortunately, he was not short of money. For the love of his daughter, he spent a lot of money to manage the House of Internal Affairs properly. He only hoped that his daughter would be released safely in ten years. The palace is coming.

Immediately after entering the palace, Liu Qiyan was assigned here to take care of this small lotus pond.This place is located in a remote place, so few people care about it, it is an extremely easy job with no burden, and it can be considered that the people in the Ministry of Internal Affairs did not take her father's money in vain.

But she is only 14 years old this year, which is the age of being active and fun.I have nothing to do here every day, and I don't see a few people all day long, so I simply go down to the pool to take a bath for fun.I have washed it several times, but I was not seen by Su Mi until today.

After hearing Qi Yan's words, Su Mi couldn't help but sigh that this girl is lucky enough.

"Sister, please don't tell Manager Li, otherwise, Qiyan will definitely be scolded." Qiyan once again warned worriedly.Li Zhe, the chief eunuch in charge of Juhe Palace, has received a lot of benefits from Liu Quan, and has always taken good care of Qiyan, and has repeatedly told her some taboos. If she knows that she has not obeyed, she will probably be scolded, she thought.

scolded?If it was really just a scolding, or just a beating, she should repay God's grace.This simple girl is completely unaware of the cruelty of the court.

Su Mi was about to say something when suddenly there was a sound of footsteps in the distance.Surprised, Su Mi quickly jumped down from the rockery, made a silent movement to Qiyan, and then crouched behind the rockery and looked out.

Through the gaps in the rockery, I could vaguely see two people coming from a distance.

When he was able to walk in, Su Mi couldn't help being surprised.First, a person wears a white jade crown and wears a bright yellow gown, on which Nine Dragons and Tengyun are vividly embroidered.With a slightly pale face, handsome and delicate, it was the Emperor Da Qi whom I saw in Caiwei Palace a few days ago, today's son Qi Long.

"Li Xingzhi recommended Chen Shu in the paperwork yesterday, and the fact that Wang She led a group of people to build momentum for him a few days ago, he thought that he would be the leader of the newly-built navy. Hmph, how could I? Let them get what they want?" Qi Taki said slowly, but for some reason, there was a kind of insidiousness in his cold voice.

"Your Majesty, don't be impatient," said the man behind Qi Long who also came into view.He wears a white jade crown belt on his head, and it is clearly a cold winter, but he only wears a thin white light shirt and a lotus-shaped purple jade pendant on his waist. A kind of elegant and calm, handsome and steady demeanor.

"How can you not be in a hurry?" Qi Long walked slowly, "Now I have to choose a place to say something important to you. I don't know why even if I skipped a chopstick for dinner, I can let you go. The queen mother gave..."

"Who?!" Before Qi Taki could finish speaking, the man in white behind him rushed to him and shouted.Sharp eyes swept towards the lotus pond where the two of Su Mi were.

"Ah, I'm the maid of Juhe Palace, who are you? This is the Bibochi of Concubine Yun." Su Mi whispered in a low voice, and Qi Yan was already stunned.

Su Mi raised her head and looked at the two of them. Just as her gaze touched the man in white, she couldn't help shivering. He was obviously handsome and elegant, with an elegant and gentle demeanor, but his eyes were extremely cold. As if she was in the ice and snow, Su Mi had a strange feeling of being completely seen through.

Suddenly she felt competitive, she didn't want to show weakness, and met his gaze.After looking at her intently, he realized that his eyes were actually a faint amber color, reflecting the pale golden winter sun, presenting a strange almost warm coldness.

"Is it a court lady?" Qi Long also stepped forward to look at the rockery.

Being far away and separated by many flowers, trees, mountains and rocks, Qi Taki could only faintly see half of his face through the gap in the rockery. He only felt that his complexion was white and greasy, his cheeks were as delicate as jade, and even the daffodils next to him lost their color.Those eyes are as bright as a clear spring, and the waves are flowing. Just staring at it makes people seem to be immersed in this blue wave pool, and they are about to sink in a trance.

Still holding the pipa half-hidden.He couldn't help but think of this poem.Can't help but walk forward.

"Ah, don't come here, I... I'm taking a shower..." Su Mi hurriedly whispered as if waking up from a dream.

Qi Taki couldn't help laughing, he hadn't encountered such an interesting thing for a long time.

The man in white withdrew his eyes and lowered his eyes. Since the opposite is a palace man, it is not his identity to look at.

At this moment, Su Mi felt that the corner of her clothes was being pulled by someone, and when she turned her head, it was Qi Yan. She pointed to the corner of the rockery behind and gestured to Su Mi.

Have a secret passage? !

"Wait a while, I'll get dressed and you come here." While dealing with Qi Taki, Su Mi motioned to Qi Yan to get dressed quickly.

Qi Long stopped walking outside, the man in white still lowered his head, but his ears moved imperceptibly, he had already heard two breathing sounds inside, but he didn't say anything, a smile overflowed from the corner of his mouth, interesting.

Qi Yan quickly pulled the dress over the rockery, and hurriedly put it on.Then he led Su Mi to the artificial mountain pass, opened a field of flowers, and there was indeed a stone cave.

The two got out and walked on the shallow water for a long time, and finally they were far away.

Qi Yan patted her chest, her little face was flushed, "I won't dare to take a bath there anymore, there was obviously no one there before, but today it's surprising that I met so many people? It's a pity that such a good place, If I want to take a bath again in the future, I have to boil the water myself.”

"Don't worry, if you want to take a bath in the future, there will be servants to burn it for you." Su Mi smiled.

"What slaves, we are slaves, can we still become masters?" Qi Yan asked doubtfully with big eyes shining.

Su Mi smiled but didn't answer, she couldn't tell that this little girl was a lucky girl, but she didn't know whether it was a blessing or a curse for her.

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A few days later, Xiao Luzi came to Su Mi's place to help, and talked about one thing.

"My sister is bored in the house all day and doesn't know the news outside, but she's about to fall out."

"What's the matter again, you're so impatient." Su Mi asked after arranging her clothes.

"Speaking of which, this is a strange thing. The day before yesterday, Prince Yu came down to the palace to find the emperor to taste tea and enjoy flowers. The emperor went to the Bibo Pond with him, but unexpectedly met..."

That man is Prince Yu!The current emperor's brother!Su Mi thought secretly.

Prince Yu Qi Hao was originally the eldest son of the late emperor, but his biological mother came from a humble background, so it was difficult for him to inherit the great lineage. It is rumored that the late emperor was very displeased with him, and even personally said that he was "hard-hearted, mean and ungrateful, the son of a lowly slave, ignorant Courtesy and filial piety." In the palace, he only had friendship with the fourth prince at that time, who is now the emperor Qi Long.Originally, the prince could seal the king's mansion at the age of 16. When Qi Hao was 16, the late emperor only gave him a mansion and let him move out, but he didn't give him any title, which shows his indifference.It wasn't until the first emperor passed away and Qi Long ascended the throne that he was named Prince Yu.Regarding Qi Hao's background, there was even a faint rumor in the palace that his biological mother not only came from a humble background, but was actually an Orchid!

"No wonder there are such rumors," Su Mi thought of those amber eyes, slightly dazed.

"Sister Su, Sister Su," Xiao Luzi was chattering there, but when he turned to look at Su Mi, he was distracted.

"Ah? What did you just say?" Su Mi recovered, "I'm listening."

"The emperor summoned this court lady named Liu Qiyan that night, and sealed off Cong Bapin's changing clothes the next day, heh."

"This is also her blessing," Su Mi said, as expected.

"How can it be considered a blessing? My sister didn't know, and it turned into a disaster in a blink of an eye. After finding out, Concubine Yun was very angry. In her palace, such a thing happened. Fortunately, she is still known as the favorite Crowning the Sixth Palace, no one can match it, and what is even more amazing is Concubine Ni Gui of Xifu Palace, who immediately sent someone to send a congratulatory gift the next day, two copies, exactly the same, and said, "One is to congratulate Sister Yunfei." On her birthday, a copy is given to her new younger sister.” Concubine Yun’s face was not good at the time, and after she left, she immediately sent someone to take Liu Changyi down, saying that she would punish her from entering the pool without authorization and polluting the Bibo Pool. In the end, I was forced to beat twenty boards, poor, how can a delicate and weak woman bear it, she just became the master, half of her life is gone."

"Poor? I think she was lucky, she deserved the beating," Su Mi put down the clothes in her hand and smiled.

Qianqing Palace Nourishing Heart Hall.

Qi Long was reviewing the memorials that had just been sent in from various places. When he heard the news that Gao Shengnuo had just sent in, he was silent for a while, and said, "Go get a bottle of the Xueyu Shengji ointment that was tributed from the Western Regions and give it to Liu to change his clothes." Send it over," paused, and said again, "Draft an edict, change clothes, Mrs. Liu, gentle and virtuous, submissive and courteous, Jin Wei is the eighth rank and agrees."

In the Juhe Palace, Concubine Yun was leaning on the couch, staring blankly at the plum blossoms in the silver vase in front of her, she was stunned for a while, and asked, "Is the emperor still in the Hall of Mental Cultivation? , is there any other order coming down?"

The left and right palace people said cautiously: "The emperor is still reading the scriptures..."

With a "pop", the plum blossoms splashed, and the silver bottle fell to the ground. Concubine Yun still didn't feel relieved, she turned around and picked up the jade cup in hand on the table, and fell hard to the ground.

Today is her birthday, she sent someone to invite the emperor early in the morning, if it was in the past, the emperor would have already had tea and chatted with her here.

"It's all that little girl," Concubine Yun thought bitterly, "and that bitch Ni Yelin, she wouldn't be so impulsive at first, anyway, people still live in her palace, after a few days, the emperor's fresh Once the strength is over, you can deal with it as you want."

She took a long breath, tried to calm herself down, turned her head and said: "Go and take out the bottle of Tianshan Snow Lotus Ning Xianglu bestowed by the emperor in the cabinet, as well as a bottle sent by the Jiangning Mansion a few days ago." Put the Zhiyu Kuilong carved flowers into a vase, and then go to get a pair of white jade Fugui Ruyi and four pieces of brocade, and take them together to reward Liu Xu. Just tell her what I said, and tell her to take good care of her illness. I will punish her as a palace I have no choice but to go over here to see her when I'm done with work." The voice was weak and tired, and there was no sadness or joy.

Cai Xing took the lead and left.

When she came back to reply, Concubine Yun said to Li Zhe, the eunuch in charge: "Little Zhezi, you can go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and ask the emperor if you are free."

(End of this chapter)